Removable wheels and trailing tongue for boats



3,2$L@74 REMOVABLE WHEELS AND TRAILING TONGUE FOR BOATS 8, 1964 C. R.SHOLL Nov. 1, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.

Cecil H. Shall INVENTOR.

Nov. 1, 1966 c. R. SHOLL 3,281,874

REMOVABLE WHEELS AND TRAILING TONGUE FOR BOATS Filed Oct. 8, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7

flea/l 1? Shall I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,281,874 REMOVABLE WHEELS AND TRAILING TONGUE FURBOATS Cecil R. Shall, R0. Box 681, Kodiak, Alaska Filed Oct. 8, 1964,Ser. No. 402,560 8 Claims. (Cl. 9-1) This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in removable wheels and trailing tongues for boatsand has for an important object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, novel means whereby a boat may, with a minimum of labor, betransported to the water, launched, pulled out and returned without theusual trailer.

Another highly important object of the present invention is to provideboat transporting wheels of the character described which may beexpeditiously removed from the hull and remounted thereon while saidhull is in the water.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide anattachment of the aforementioned character comprising a unique springsuspension for yieldingly supporting the boat.

Another object is to provide a boat transporting means of the characterset forth wherein the attaching means which is carried by the hull maybe incorporated therein at the time of manufacturing.

Other objects are to provide a boat transporting means which iscomparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of lightweight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of a boat equipped with wheels anda trailing tongue or towbar embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section, takensubstantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on theline 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in transverse section on an enlarged scale throughthe towbar, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the towbar.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the rear portion of thetowbar, showing the parts separated.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly with a portionbroken away;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly, showing the partsseparated and with portions omitted.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a modification; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view in transverse section of a side portionof a plastic boat, showing the modification of FIGURE 9 installed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail it will be seen that thereference numeral 10 designates generally a conventional boat. Mountedon the sides of the boat 16, adjacent to but spaced forwardly from thestern or transom 12 thereof, is a pair of wheel assemblies 14. A towbar16 is mounted on the stem or how 18 of the boat 10.

As illustrated to advantage in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawing, eachwheel assembly 114 comprises a bracket 20 which includes a rectangularmetallic plate 22 having holes 24 in its corner portions for thereception of bolts or screws 26 for firmly securing said plate inposition on the side of the boat 10 at a point immediately adjacent toor flush with the bottom 28 thereof. Secured vertically as by welding at30 on the outer side of the plate 22 are spaced, parallel tubularsockets or sleeves 32 of suit-- able metal. Secured as by welding on theplate 22, between the sleeves 32, is a spacing block or brace 34 thepurpose of which will be presently set forth.

The bracket 20 carries a vertically removable wheel mount 34. The mount34 includes a generally inverted U-shaped bar or yoke 36 having afiixedthereto, as by welding, at longitudinally spaced points generallyupstanding pins 38 which are insertable upwardly in the sleeves 32 forremovably mounting the yoke 36 on the plate 22. It will be noted thatwhen so mounted the pins 38 project above the sleeves 32 and saidsleeves rest on the yoke 36.

Mounted for oscillation in a vertical plane in the yoke 36 is agenerally T-shaped, tubular movable shaft or member 38 comprising arelatively short stern portion or branch 40. The shaft 38 is journaledfor oscillation on a pivot bolt 42 which is mounted in openings 44provided therefor in the end portions of the yoke 36.

The member provides a socket in which is fixedly mounted an end portionof an axle 46. A removable wheel 48 is mounted for rotation on the axle46. The wheel 48 comprises a hub 50 having suitable bearings 52 thereinon the axle 46. The wheel 48 further includes a pneumatic tire 54.

The free or outer end of the axle 46 is yieldingly supported on the yoke36 through the medium of a generally inverted U-shaped spring 56 whichbridges the wheel 48 and which has one end portion afiixed 'at 58 tosaid yoke by welding. The outer end portion of the spring 56 isapertured to receive the outer end portion of the axle 46 therethrough.A nut and washer assembly 60 detachably secures the outer end portion ofthe spring 56 to the corresponding end portion of the axle 46. The blockor brace 34 includes an inclined cam face 62 which is engaged by theopposed inner end portion of the spring 56. The respective side of theboat 10 is indicated at 64.

The towbar 16 comprises a generally V-shape-d apertured plate 66 whichis permanently mounted on the lower portion of the how 18 of the boat10. Secured to the plate 56 at an intermediate point and projectingforwardly therefrom is a metallic tongue 68. The tongue 68 istelescopically engaged in the rear end portion of a sleeve 70 in the[form of an inverted channel bar having secured beneath its rear endportion a plate '72 (see FIG- URE 4). As shown, the tongue 68 issubstantially dovetailed in transverse section and the interior of thesleeve 70 is correspondingly shaped. The members 68 and 70 are providedwith openings 74 and 76, respectively, which are brought into registryto receive a removable pin 78 for detachably connecting said members. Aball and socket hitch assembly 80 detachably connects the forward end ofthe sleeve 70 to a towing vehicle 82.

It is thought that the use or operation of the invention will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the boat 10 istowed to the launching site and backed into the water, after which saidboat is detached from the towing vehicle. With the boat now waterborne,the wheels 48 and the towbar 16 may be readily removed from within saidboat. When returning and upon approaching the shore or beach, the wheels48 are remounted on the brackets 20 and the towbar 16 is again attachedwhereby the boat may be pulled out of the water. The inner end portionsof the springs 56 cam on the slightly relatively angled faces 62 of theblocks 34 and are tensioned thereby for frictionally retaining themounts 34 on the plates 20. As will be apparent, the springs 56yieldingly support the outer ends of the axles 46 in a manner to permitvertical oscillation of said axles and the wheels thereon.

As shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 of the drawing, reference numeral 86generally designates a portion of a plastic boat. Molded in the side andbottom 88 and 90, respectively, of the plastic boat 86 is a metallic rod92. A bracket 94 in the form of a metallic plate 96 is molded in theside 88 of the boat 86 and Welded on the upstanding portion of the rod92. -In the embodiment shown, a reinforcing rod 98 is molded in thegunwale of the boat 86 and affixed to the upper end of the rod 92.Sleeves 100 are afiixed as by welding to the plate 96 with a cam block102 therebetween. Of course, the unit 34 is mounted on the bracket 94,the pins 38 entering the sleeves 100 with the inner end portion of thespring 56 binding on the cam block 102.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An apparatus for transporting boats comprising, in combination, apair of supporting wheel assemblies, means removably securing saidassemblies to the sides of a boat, a towbar including means fordetachably securing said towbar to a towing vehicle, and meansdetachably securing said towbar to the stem of the boat, each of saidWheel assemblies including a plate mounted on a side of the boat, atleast one essentially upstanding sleeve on the plate, a mount comprising-a bar, an essentially upstanding pin on the bar engaged in said sleeve,a vertically oscillatable shaft on the bar, an axle afiixed laterally tothe shaft, and a wheel mounted for rotation on said axle. I

2. A boat transporting device comprising a bracket mounted on the boat,axle, means mounting said axle for swinging movement in a vertical planeon the bracket, a ground wheel rotatable on the axle, and means foryieldingly resisting upward swinging movement of the axle, thesecond-named means including a generally inverted U-shaped springstraddling the wheel and having one of its ends afiixed to the bracketand its other end secured to the free end of the axle.

3. A boat transporting device comprising a bracket mounted on the boat,an axle, means mounting said axis for swinging movement in a verticalplane on the bracket, a ground wheel rotatable on the axle, and meansfor yieldingly resisting upward swinging movement of the axle, saidbracket including essentially vertical sleeves, the first-named meansincluding a yoke, upstanding pins on the yoke engaged in the sleeves, ashaft journaled for vertical oscillation in the yoke, and a lateralsocket on the shaft receiving an end portion of the axle.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, said bracket further including aplate having openings therein and further having the sleeves mountedthereon, and fasteners engaged in the openings and securing the plate onthe boat.

5. The combination of claim 2, together with a spacing block mounted onthe bracket and including a cam face frictionally engageable undertension by said one end portion of the spring.

6. A boat transporting device comprising a bracket including a verticalrectangular metallic plate having holes in its corner portions receivingfasteners for securing said plate on a side of a boat, laterally spacedvertical sleeves on the plate, a wheel mount remov-ably mounted on thebracket and including an inverted yoke, upstanding pins on the yokeupwardly engaged in the sleeves, a removable pivot bolt extendingbetween the end portions of the yoke, a tubular shaft mounted forvertical oscillation on said pivot bolt, an axle secured at one end onthe shaft at right angles thereto, a ground wheel rotatable on theshaft, and a generally inverted U-shaped spring bridging the wheel andhaving one end portion aflixed to the yoke and its other end portionsecured to the free end of the axle for yieldingly resisting upwardswinging movement thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6, together with a brace block mounted onthe plate between the sleeves and abutting said one end portion of saidspring.

8. In combination, a plastic boat, a metallic rod embedded in the boat,a bracket comprising a metallic plate embedded in the boat and affixedto the rod, upstanding exposed sleeves on the plate, a horizontal bar,upstanding pins on the bar engaged in the sleeves, a shaft mounted forvertical oscillation on the bar, an axle affixed at one end to the shaftat right angles thereto, a wheel rotatably mounted on said axle, and aspring connected to the axle for yieldingly retaining same in anessentially horizontal position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,171,889 9/1939Payson 91 X 2,339,782 1/1944 Johnson 9-1 X 2,484,346 10/1949 Iorns 9-1 X2,632,655 3/1953 King et al 9-1 X 2,673,991 4/ 1954 Dahlkirst 9-'1MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner.

1. A APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING BOATS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF SUPPORTING WHEEL ASSEMBLIES, MEANS REMOVABLY SECURING SAID ASSEMBLIES TO THE SIDES OF A BOAT, A TOWBAR INCLUDING MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID TOWBAR TO A TOWING VEHICLE, AND MEANS DETACHABLY SECURING SAID TOWBAR TO THE STEM OF THE BOAT, EACH OF SAID WHEEL ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING A PLATE MOUNTED ON A SIDE OF THE BOAT, AT LEAST ONE ESSENTIALLY UPSTANDING SLEEVE ON THE PLATE, A MOUNT COMPRISING A BAR, AN ESSENTIALLY UPSTANDING PIN ON THE BAR ENGAGED IN SAID SLEEVE A VERTICALLY OSCILLATABLE SHAFT ON THE BAR, AN AXLE AFFIXED LATERALLY TO THE SHAFT, AND A WHEEL MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON SAID AXLE. 